Advice in Planet income

Trade ports will increase your income.  They need to be researched, and take up 4 logistical slots.  What race do you play?

In the planet upgrades there are several green buttons.

The first is the one that increase the planet income. most planets are - untill you reach 2nd or 3rd upgrades in them. It is easy to tell as when you mouse over it you can see the number in red or green for the next level

I'm playing all nations (still discovering all nations). I've already discovered Vasari (trade port at 4 research lab) and advent (3 research lab).

Currently I'm on TEC.

Ok for increase planet growth..:)

I've also noticed that you can increase growth with research on specific kind of planet (terran or Desert).

Even with all this, computer player seems to get a better planet income than me..:)

I'll try to max out growth, but it's not so evident as I need also to defend myself..:)

One last question : about trade port, how can I max out trade? I've read that I need to avoid hole in trade path...that means that I need to put a starbase (with trade port abaility) in each void system between my inhabited planets??

Starbases are a new addition in the upcoming expansion pack, which some people are testing.  That information does not apply to you, so don't worry about uncolonizable systems.  They won't become "holes" in your trade route.

Remember to upgrade your planet infrastructure, otherwise you'll pay underdevelopment tax and your planetary populations won't grow very large.  Don't upgrade infrastructure too fast, however, as your planet's population can only grow so fast.  There's no reason upgrading your population capacity from 100 to 190 if the current level is 50.  It's not going to hit the cap for a while, so you can defer the investment until later.  Just be sure to get rid of that underdevelopment tax, as it can really hammer your income.

Reaserching specific terran or desert will give you an ability to increase the max population you can have on those planets, the bigger your pop the more tax income you recieve.

Also as Mathew the Mage mentioned you buy/build infrastructure using the planet upgrade button located on the bottom right hand side of the heads up display, once you have clicked on a planet. Its the green one with longnitudinal/latitudinal lines on it. After clicking this, click the button wuth the half man( must turn green first). This button upgrades your infrastructure, also allowing your planets pop. to increase thus more income. Note; if you upgrade too many of these straight away it can cost you for awhile. Oh! your home planet usually comes with these upgrades at the start of the game and does'nt need doing(at least to begin with), all planets you colinize will have none.

In answer to your last qestion, you don't have to put a starbace in a spectial system to continue a chain. It contiues through systems where you can't put a trade port (including between stars). You just have to avoid your opponant owning a planet/asteroid in your chain, this will brake it. Putting a star base with a trade upgrade in these spots will improve your trade income though.

Hope this helps. I"m sure you will work it out

On large maps depending solely on incoem from population is a no-no.  This is because of Allegiance, which is lower further away you are from your hoemworld.  Tradeports ont he otehr hand are not affected by this.

I suggest you upgrade your planet from underdevoped to developed by upgrading your planet, adding trade pots, population density is also important, it doesn't matter what race you play as, it would just be the same

Thank you all for your help.

I understand better now how it works.

On the other hand I found that selling metal or crystal could be a good option, as soon as I can boost my metal/crystal extraction..:)

Otherwise I love starbases...they are really powerful..:)

Ok then. Now I've boosted all my planet growth+large trade network=plenty of cash..:D (with TEC..I guess with Vasari it's a bit more complicated..:))

Thank you all for your advices..:)